Nadal, seeded fifth, jumped out to a 3-0 lead on del Potro, who fought off a
two break points to hold in the fourth game.

Del Potro brought back with a forehand return winner and consolidated the
break to even the first set at 3-3.

Nadal momentarily quelled del Potro's momentum with a love service game, but
the seventh-seeded del Potro won the next five games. He broke Nadal to go up
5-4 and secured the first set with a lunging forehand volley winner.

Del Potro broke Nadal to open the second set and saved a break point for a 2-0
lead.

Now, it was Nadal's turn to battle back. Down 3-1, he won five straight games
to force a decisive third set.

Nadal converted his fourth break point of the third set to take a 2-1 lead,
then closed out a love hold with an ace to go up 5-3.

Del Potro saved three championship points, but Nadal wound up securing his
third Indian Wells title on his serve as del Potro sent a forehand return
wide.

Nadal appeared in his fourth final in as many events this season, proving he
is fully recovered from a left knee injury that sidelined him for seven
months.

However, he has withdrawn from the Sony Open in Miami.

Off to the best start of his career at 17-1, the Spaniard suffered his lone
setback on the year to Horacio Zeballos in the Vina del Mar final in February.
He has since won 14 matches in a row, capturing clay-court titles at Sao Paulo
and Acapulco, and his latest triumph will move him up to No. 4 in the world
rankings.

Nadal earned his 53rd career singles title and a record 22nd ATP World Tour
Masters 1000 crown. He had not fared well recently in hard court finals,
losing six straight following a win in Tokyo on Oct. 10, 2010.

Del Potro, meanwhile, was vying to become the first Argentine to win the title
in this tournament's history. He had rallied from a set down to defeat back-
to-back Top 3 opponents at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, first Andy Murray
in the quarterfinals and then Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.